Summer

TOKYO (REUTERS) - The countdown to the Tokyo Olympics hit the 100-day mark on Wednesday (April 14) as the Games draw closer to reality after a one-year delay due to the Covid-19 pandemic. But several questions remain unanswered amid uncertainties over the pandemic, including how many spectators will be allowed into venues and what revisions will be made to participants' Covid-19 health protocols. When are the Summer Olympics? The Olympics are scheduled for July 23 to Aug 8 and the Paralympics from Aug 24 to Sept 5. About 11,000 Olympic athletes will compete in 33 sports, while more than 4,000 Paralympians will compete across 22 sports. Organisers say the Olympics will show there is light at the end of the pandemic tunnel. Will spectators be in venues? International spectators will not be allowed into Japan, organisers decided in March, amid fears over new variants of the coronavirus. Organisers plan to decide this month on the maximum number of local fans permitted in ... » Learn More about Olympics: Key issues as Tokyo marks 100 days until Summer Games

Whether you’re a professional or a student, it’s likely that you consider your laptop an essential tool. Even before we were locked down due to the pandemic, we brought it everywhere so we could remotely work in coffee shops and co-working spaces. Now that we’re mostly at home, we tend to use our laptops for hours—even a whole day for some—for both work and play. This is why it’s more important than ever to find a device that’s sturdy, lightweight, and has all the features we need while still being affordably priced. If you’re looking to upgrade, a business-class laptop like the HP ProBook 445 G7 powered by AMD Ryzen™ 4000 Series processors is the way to go. While lifestyle laptops are popular among creatives because of features like detachable screens and built-in styluses, business laptops are better built to handle heavy workload. Before, business laptops were usually clunky devices. They’ve gone a long way since then with portable notebooks with commercial-grade PC ... » Learn More about Here are 5 reasons why you should upgrade to a business laptop

SEN. Sherwin Gatchalian on Tuesday called on the energy sector to ensure uninterrupted power supply as the government continues to urge the public to stay at home. Gatchalian made the call following reports on a series of forced power outages in the Luzon grid. He cited data provided by the Department of Energy (DoE) that for the billing period February 26 to March 25, there were 15 unplanned outages due to excessive oil leaks, high turbine vibration and other technical problems. There were also seven planned outages during the period. The senator said electricity demand is usually higher during the summer months and as such, the reserve margin is thinner. He emphasized that the country cannot afford to have brownouts during this time when vaccines need to be stored in specific cold conditions or refrigerated to maintain their efficacy. The chairman of the Senate energy committee also urged power generation companies to defer to a later date any planned maintenance shutdowns ... » Learn More about Gatchalian to energy sector: Ensure ample power supply

EMPOWERING the new generation of athletes will be the main topic in the ninth session of the virtual 2021 National Sports Summit hosted and organized by the Philippines Sports Commission (PSC) on Wednesday, April 14, 2021. The resource speaker for this edition is no less than Philippine swimming icon and three-time Olympian Akiko Thomson-Guevara, who owns numerous awards and recognitions in her field of expertise. Thomson-Guevara, an eight-time gold medalist in the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, will discuss the topic on the “Role of the Philippine Olympics in furthering Philippines Sports” centered on the ongoing efforts of the Philippine Olympians Association, an organization founded in 2002 with the aim to provide opportunities through sports for the Filipino youth. Thomson-Guevara, elected as president of the body composed of fellow Filipino Olympians and has been leading it since 2015, will also share her knowledge on the topic on how to optimize the asset of the Filipino ... » Learn More about Swimming icon Thomson-Guevara graces Nat’l Sports Summit

PLDT wireless unit Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) has solidified its superiority in 5G after being hailed as the fastest 5G network in the Philippines by Ookla ® , the global leader in internet testing and analysis. Based on consumer-initiated tests taken using Speedtest ® by Ookla, Smart has consistently posted the fastest 5G speeds for Q1 2021, with median download speeds of 190 Mbps, more than double the competition’s speeds for the same period*. “Our steady investments and unflagging resolve to expand and upgrade our integrated fixed and wireless networks, as well as to bring Smart 5G closer to our customers nationwide, have brought about these outstanding results,” said Smart Communications President and CEO and PLDT Chief Revenue Officer Alfredo S. Panlilio. “Just as we did with Smart LTE, which has been recognized by Ookla since 2018 as the country’s fastest 4G/LTE network, we are working non-stop to expand the coverage of our 5G service and make it ... » Learn More about Smart is fastest 5G Network in PH – Ookla

Soldiers erect a field hospital at the Chiang Mai International Exhibition and Convention Centre in Muang district of Chiang Mai. (Chiang Mai Public Relations Office photo) A Covid-19 surge in Chiang Mai is considered to be a red alert after this northern province on Monday recorded an additional 269 Covid-19 cases, mostly related to nightspots, prompting provincial authorities to expand facilities at the field hospital. Chiang Mai yesterday led Bangkok and Chon Buri in new Covid-19 infections as Thailand logged a new daily record of 985 cases. The CCSA said Chiang Mai led in new cases with 269 transmissions, followed by Bangkok (137) and Chon Buri (92). The number of at-risk people in Chiang Mai is estimated at about 5,000-6,000, according to its governor. The 985 new infections reported by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) is the highest daily tally since the pandemic began and raises the accumulated total to 33,610. All but five were transmitted ... » Learn More about Infections reach record rate

French pharmaceuticals giant Sanofi, which was beaten by competitors to a Covid-19 vaccine, said Monday it would spend 400 million euros ($475 million) on building a new plant that can produce several vaccines at once. The high-tech factory will be located in Singapore and will be operational in the first quarter of 2026, the company said, adding that construction would start this summer. "The new site will provide Sanofi with the ability to produce innovative vaccines on a massive scale for Asia, and quickly respond to future pandemic risks," it added. Read also: Private sector picks up slack in vaccination drive Sanofi dealt a huge blow to France's pride in its pharmaceutical sector by being trounced in the race to develop a Covid-19 vaccine. The world's third-biggest vaccine maker before the pandemic has said its vaccine candidate will not be ready before late 2021 at the earliest. In the interim it has been reduced to helping produce vaccines for its rivals Pfizer ... » Learn More about France’s Sanofi to invest 400 million euros in Singapore vaccine plant

Dylan Summers and his three-legged dog, Athena (Image: Facebook/Gateway Pet Guardians) A man has finally found his three-legged dog after she went missing about 10 months ago in Missouri, USA. Athena managed to escape from Dylan Summers’ house last February while she was recovering from amputation surgery. One of her legs was removed after she was hit by a car, as per CBS-affiliate WTSP on Jan. 2. After weeks of searching for his beloved pet, Summers eventually decided to throw in the towel last month and look for a new dog. However, while he was scrolling through an animal shelter’s website on Dec. 30, he saw his very own Athena on the page. Though she was listed under the name “Miss-a-toe,” seemingly referring to her lost limb, Summers had no doubt that the dog was Athena. He then quickly contacted the Gateway Pet Guardians shelter to inform the staff. According to the report, the center received Athena from St. Clair County Animal Control earlier in December. “It was ... » Learn More about 3-legged dog missing for 10 months reunites with owner

Apple Inc said on Tuesday (April 13) it was holding a special event on April 20, with many expecting the tech giant to launch new iPad Pro models and other products ahead of its annual developers’ conference in June. Apple’s cryptic invitation for the media did not give much away and read: “Spring Loaded.” The event will be live-streamed on the company’s website from its campus in Cupertino, California, it added. Earlier, Apple’s virtual assistant Siri, which is known for stone walling curious Apple fans quizzing it about new products and upcoming events by directing them to the company’s website, prematurely revealed the iPhone maker’s plan to hold an event next Tuesday. When asked by Reuters reporters about Apple’s next event on their iPhones, Siri responded by displaying a message that said, “the special event is on Tuesday, April 20th, at Apple Park in Cupertino, CA. You can get all the details on Apple.com.” ALSO READ: Apple announces 'speed' event next week, new iPhones ... » Learn More about Apple to hold special event on April 20

An unfortunate consequence of today’s mass consumerism lifestyle is that the average consumer has very little knowledge of the true impact of our buying decisions. It’s a pity but we don’t really know what goes into the product we buy and use. We can only guess at what toll was exacted upon the environment just so we could have those cute slippers with the faux fur trim. And then there’s all that plastic and packaging waste that’s choking our planet to death with every passing second. But we don’t have to stand idly by. Buying from manufacturers whose practices and beliefs align with ecological, ethical practices is an effective and satisfying way to make sure we are truly doing all we can for our precious planet. Ahead, we’ve rounded up some of the brands that you can shop and support for this Earth Day. Fashion 1. Pedro After its third consecutive year of celebrating Earth Day in 2020, Pedro launched an eco-conscious line, rePEDRO of which at least one material is ... » Learn More about Shopping green: Celebrate Earth Day with these labels that give back